Capping machine



Jam 1, 1929.

`1,696,961 aw. Lowry-EK GAPPING MACHI NE Filed July 8, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. l, 1929. 1,696,961

c. w. LoUFK CAPPING MACHINE Filed July 8. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. W. LOUFK CAPPING MACHINE Jam L E929@ Jan. 1, 1929. C. W. -LOUFEK CAPPING MACHINE 4Filed July 8, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jen. 1', i929.

oneven sereni* o-FFicE.

CHARLES vf. L'oUirnit', on` CEDAR serine, town, Assrenon To THE conico MrLLs COMPANY, or nAsr er. Lenie, immers, A ceeronnrroiv orA ILLINOIS-z CAPPNG Application filed July 8,

rllhis invention relates to a capping ma` chile adapted to apply caps to cartons; and other receptacles @ne of the objects is to reduce or eliminate the losses due to failure ot the caps toy prop-` erly lit onto the rreceptacles during` the capping. operations.. ln one form` ot the invention, a guiding* device is used to hold the capy in alinement with. the receivitacle, and. this guiding devicey isprovided with` a projection adapted to lie directly between the cap and receptacle.` rlhe projection may be in the form of a thin flange surrounded by the lower margin, of the cap andy serving,- as a guide to positively direct one end of the receptacle into the cap, as Will bethereatter described. y n

Another object is; to produce simple and eiiectiver means for delivering the caps and receptacles to the devices which applyr caps. To illustrate this feature l have shown and will hereafter describe a pair of endless conveyors feeding the caps and receptacles to. stop members located vnear the cap-1 applying devices, and pair of pushers whereby the caps receptacles areinoved from the conveyors uo the' cap-applying devices. n

Another object is to cause the cap to adhere to the receptacle byvp-roperly zupplying a suite-ble amount adhesive gum, or the like7V to the cap.-receiving` end ot the receptacle. ln cerrying eut this object l prefer to utili-Ze Lsumming roll located above a traveling conveyor whereby the receptacles are carried toward the capp-ing device, and it is convenient to have a stop in the course or" the receptacles to pei eitmotion et the conveyor While seine of the receptacles are at rest. llo-rvervrv it a receptacle is at rest, oi" subjected to en iut nittent motion, While in Contact with the ,unrning roll, an excess: oi will be d vered to the receptacle am yhe distribution oi? the guin Will not be uniform. Attention Will beherea'tter eeted to a means whereby the receptacles' are given a. uniform inotion and prevented from stop-pingivhile in contact With the gui-inning roll. y

i further object is to provide an iniproved mee-ns ttor holding` and dropping the receptacles in a guide, where they are re- MACHINE.

192s. serial no.` 121,143-,

leased one at a time andthen deliveredv to the cap-applying`I mechanism. l

-l/Vith the foregoine` end other objects in view, the invention comprisesthe novelconstruction combination and arrangement of parte hereinafter more specifically described and! illustrated` in the accompanying drawings, Where-in is shown the preferred embodiinent of the invention. However, it is to Vbe understood thatthe invention comp-rehends changes, variations and modifications which come WithinA the scope of the claims hereunto appended.. i

Fig. I is a top view of acapping .machine embodying. the features of this invention.

Fig. Il is a side elevation of they machine.

Fig. IH is a vertical section on ai' seeley teken approximately, but not exactly, onl the linev lII-II in Fig. II.

Fig. is aV top View, part-ly in section74 illustrating "various elements nearthe points Where the caps are applied tothe receptacles.

Fig. V is an enlarged fragmentary vertical ysection showing the means for direct-` ing the cap-receiving ends of the receptacles into the caps.. c

VI is a section on aL still larger scale showing one of the guiding elements between the receptacle end the cap..

Fig. VII is e View similar to Fig. IV illustrating certain elements Which lie in a higher plane. ,c M

A designates receptacles in the form oi paper tubes, or cartons, adapted to receive a ccp at each end.. I will hereafter describe the manner in which the caps are applied to one end oi each tube and it isy to be understood that the other end may be capped in the same manner. rl`he tubulary receptacles Aenter the appara-tus through a vertical guide B I and ll) Wherethey drop by gravity to a feeding device consistingv of several eleinentsivhich tren-smitv them` to the cappingn'iechenisnL The vertical guide B comprises rods 1 connected by rings 2 which surrotnid the rods. A stationary platform 3 is located below this vertical guide, and a feeder 4 reciprocatesabove the platform, said -teederhaving, a horizontal ezttension 5 at the top onto which the receptacles are dropped, as will be hereafter described. The feeder l is provided with lugs 6 slidaloly mounted on horizontal rods 7. An endless traveling conveyor 8 is arranged below the stationary platform 3 to receive the receptacles pushed therefrom by the reciprocating feeder 4.

The means for controlling the delivery of the receptacles from the vertical guide B comprises a primary retarding lever 9 fulcrumed at 10 and having a curved arm 9 engaging the lowermost receptacle A in the guide B. A secondary retarding lever 11 is pivoted at 12 and provided with a curved. arm 13 adapted to engage the side of the receptacle to force the receptacle into frictional engagement with the vertical guide. A link 14 connects the lever 11 to the lever 9, the latter being connected to an arm 15 extending from an eccentric strap 16 surrounding` an eccentric 17 on a constantly rotating shaft 1.8. The reciprocating pusher 4 is connected by means of a link 19 (Figs. l and Il) to a crank arm 20 on the shaft 13.

The operation of the elements just described is as follows:

During' each revolution of the shaft 18 the lever arm 9 is displaced from the guide B to release the lowermost receptacle, and the lever 11 is moved to frictionally engage the side of the next higher receptacle. Then this occurs the horizontal extension 5 on the feeder 4 lies below the vertical guide and the lowermost receptacle drops onto said extension, while the next higher receptacle is frictionally held by the lever 11. During the return stroke of the feeder 4 the receptacle drops from the lower end of the vertical guide B to the stationary platform 3, and the lever 9 is restored to the position shown in Fig. Il, while the upper lever 11 is restored to release the receptacle above the lever arm 9.

As these operations are continued the receptacles are pushed from the stationary platform to the traveling conveyor belt 3.

The means for driving the shaft 13 on which the crank arm 2O and eccentric 17 are mounted comprises a pulley 21 fixed to a shaft 22 and driven by the conveyor belt 3, a sprocket wheel 23 fixed to said shaft 22, a sprocket wheel 24 fixed to the shaft 13, and a sprocket chain 25 transmitting motion from the wheel 23 to the wheel'24. llhen the machine is in operation. these elements are driven continuously to release the recel tacles from the vertical guide and to transmit them to the traveling conveyor belt 3 which carries the receptacles to the opposite end of the machine. The upper portion of this belt travels in a channel 2G, and said belt is driven by a pulley 27 shown in Figs. Il and TV.

The means for imparting' mot-ion to the belt 3 comprises a shaft .28 (Fig. TV) on which the pulley 27 is mounted, a gear wheel 29 iixed to said shaft and meshing with a gear wheel 30, the latter being on a shaft 3l provided with a sprocket wheel 32. This sprocket wheel 32 is driven by a chain 33 (Figs. l and TV) extending from a driving sprocket wheel 34 on a power shaft 35 which may be operated by any suitable power.

The conveyor belt 3 is thus driven to carry the recptacle A to a stationary stop bar 36, which appears in Figs. I, TV and Vfl. W hen the machine is in operation the receptacles are temporarily stopped by the bar 36 while the conveyor belt continues in motion beneath them, and to provide an ample supply of receptacles for quick delivery to th capping device, a. row of these receptacles is formed, as shown at the left portion of Fig. Tl, the receptacle at the extreme left of the row being in contact with the stationary stop bar 36 which appears in Fig. I.

F igs. I and Il show a rotary gumming roll 37 located above the course of the re ceptacles A and adapted to contact with the upper edges thereof. This roll transfersI ad# hesive gum from a pan 38 to the receptacles. The roll is fixed to a shaft 39 provided with a sprocket wheel 40 driven by a chain 41 extending from a laro'er sprocket wheel 42 on a shaft V43, the latter having a second sprocket wheel 44 driven by a chain 45 passing around a sprocket wheel 46 on the power shaft 35. The peripheral speed of the gumming roll 37 is preferably the same as the speed of the conveyor belt 8 which carries the receptacles past the gumming roll.

This is a simple and convenient means for applying adhesive material. to the cap-receiving ends of the receptacles, but to obtain an even distribution of the gum the receptacles should not be permitted to stop while in contact with the rotary gumming roll. They are stopped and permitted to accumulate at the left of this roll, as shown in Fig. Il. but they are retarded at the right of the roll and released one at a time in response to each capping operation, as will be presently described, so a constant and uniform motionis imparted to the receptacle in contact with the gumming roll.

A suitable means for stopping and releasing the receptacles at the right of the gumming roll 37 is shown in Figs. l and Il. It comprises a wheel 47 having radial stop arms movable into and out of the course of the receptacles passing to the gummng roll. This wheel 47 may be loosely mounted on a shaft 43 located at one side of the traveilling conveyor belt 3. A controllinglever 49, pivoted at 50, is oscillated by a long` bar 5]. as will be hereafter described, and the upper end of this lever moves into and out of the path of the radial arms on the stop wheel 47. This loosely mounted wheel may be driven by the receptacles A on the conveyor belt 8, so as to allow the receptacles to pass the wheel, but said wheel is stopped ooveyor'vbjelt 56, said belt beting moun'ed on pulleys 57 and 58. The pulley 57' se''zued to llie silo-lit on which the' spioele' wheel 4 is mounted (Fig. E) to erensmlt motionlto said shaft..

ln Fig. H L poij'ioi of tli'e Conveyioii bel?.

56 is shown iff seeon, and it will moved dil li's belt suil'oui'ids the oeps C resting eifies the stop bei 60 which restaiiis one next adjacent esp' until the pusher ispo stofed' by moving lo idle right ioliA .elle position shown ifn Fig. VH. Y 65 (Figs. Hl* edd VH) prevent d moet of the' oep G stopf bei' 60.

The mei* W foi pushing the reeepsicles from the' lower belt 8 is shown iii Figs. IH and IV.- It comprises the recipi'o'coein'g plete 6]: eind membel' 66 aft one eud' of tlL plefe adapted 'to ooltset vvtl anre"efepieeleL il, es shown in' Fig". IH. The commet member 66 may be formed inegrzlljvlli the cpiooaftig (Halte. En Fig. IEE the member 67 is' e* ifeinfoici-g web uniting seid plato" and lie commet me'mbei 66. Tlii's Contact place`- member 66 eoiifoilus to lie slepe oi: the,

Cap-engaging member (lll and' ift liesy directly below seid member 64; lt tmw'elsoverA the' fop of Jhe lower' belt 8 6o push reeepaole from' 'the stotioliaijy'f stop'lbm 86 Wliioli epe pears in Figs. l, lV zuid VH.

The ineens for reoiproootiiig the sl'dable plete. 6I afu'd the pusliers c'uio'd tlieieby im@ oludes liolizowlf piu 68' lill?) ce1- ied by seid plate and locadfed in elle' forked' u'pp'ei" end of "olie l'eveid mlm 545.; said' ami be- -Xed* to a sliaft 69 (Figs. l sind Hl) pi-ovfded wil-li em opei'zlftiu'gf aim' FO cou lifee'ed by means of o'd '7l to e emula 72' ou s" iotery shale 73,- vliioli will be bore'- alfte" referred to:

Before' pointing out the details of the Cep: ping device I will stee that it compel s o peir oic seu'i-oyliidiiczd .gripping meillbei-s 74 movable sway fomyeaehf otl'e to oe'ei've" lie oep" imd' reepzele from the pusle'rs 64 and 66, and' these'v gripping; inembeis a' mo'v'eblfe ovve'rd ezroli' olfvei lo lirioti'o'ne; hold @be oep and lfeoepsele. They form o guiding deviee to mine the cop with' the' receptacle, sind when so olline'd and imo tioally held, the oep zuid re'oep'tf-i'le are acted upon by pluugers 75' zend 76 to' apply the @op to tbe i'e'o'eylfaele.

y Each semi-Cylindrical Hexibei" M foimed integfal vvi'tli o horizontal plete (Figs. IL IH a-iid V) leviifg its sid ed'gj slid'b'ly mounted in smliom'y gz The means 'foi moving these semi yiimlg-` oel members toward 'and @Way 'fumo eoel'l other eolpiises levers 79 A luiviug forked uppei' oi' ls to 'ooe'ivef plus carried by the sliding' platos if?. lbese levers 79 :we iiilerufnod it 80'n1'd"tlu-sy have rollers atllieif lower ends (Fig. l1) eugag in'goams Si on the i'otu'fy shell; 731. The cams move die leveis 79 to 'force the semioylindiioal meni'be's 74:' toward eil-oli other, and springs 82 may be eilpioyed to movi` seid mel'nb'e's 74C wey from' each obllxe;

Fig. HI shows that a horizontal suiace s pio iido'd o support the recepeelas A when they e'e pi'sled from the belt 8 *Le the plunger' 76' Where Jdie Capping operetion is Angle be s` ll. und ill) performed, but a special movable support is provided for the caps C passing from the belt 56 to a point below `he upper plunger 75. This' movable support is adapted to retain the cap in an elevated position between the semi-cylindrical gripping jaws` until said jaws frictionally hold the cap. The support referred to comprises a pair of supporting wings 83 (Figs. lll. and IV) pivoted at Se and having extensions 85 connected by links 86 to the rcciprocati Y gripping jaws 74C. Each of these jaws is slotted at 87 (Figs. ill and V) to receive one of the supporting wings 83. The wing 83 in each of the jaws 7i lV) is cennected to the other jaw by means vof one of the links 8G. Bearing in mind `that eacn wing 83 is connect-ed to a stationary pivot S4 (Fig. lV) near one of the gripping jaws 74e, and that a link 86 connects the wing to the other `gripping jaw, the motion si gested by dot and dash lines in Fig. lV be readily understood. The jaws move toward and away from each other in straight lines, while the supporting wings S3 swingon the pivots iVhen the jaws 74 are separated as shown by full lines .in Fig. V, the wings 83 occupy the positions shown by full lines to receive a cap delivered by the reciprocating pusher G4, and as the jaws approach each other to grip the cap, the wings 83 gradually move out of the jaws to the positions shown by dot and dash lines.

It will now be understood that a cap C is located above a receptacle A as shown in F ig. IH, and that the semi-cylindrical gripping` jaws Wl then move toward each other to frictionally hold the cap andreceptacle in alinement with each other. By mechanism to be hereafter described, the top plunger moves down to the position shown in Fig. V, and the lower plunger 76 moves upwardly to insert the upper end of the receptacle into the cap. An impor ant feature is to be considered at this point.

The cap and receptacle may be made of paper or other more or less flexible material. and a high degree of accuracy is not obtained in the manufacture of such articles. The shape and dimensions vary more or less but the cap is intended to rather closely fit the receptacle.

Figs. IH, lV. V and V l show that the means for applying the cap comprises a vertical guiding device including jaws @l which frictionally hold the cap and receptacle in alineinent with each other, and a projection 88 adapted to he directly between the cup and receptacle when thev are moved fipm the position shown in lll to the position shown in Figs. V and V. Each gripping jaw 74 is cut away to receive a semi-cylindrical bar 89 which may be secured by means of screws 90, and the guiding projection 88 ineegeei may be in the form of a thin flaring flanee of arcuate formation extending upward 1 from the bar 89. W hen the gripping jaws .Yl Vlie adjacent to each other, the flanges or projections, 88 provide a substantially cir-` cular guiding element to direct the receptacle into the cap.

rEhe fiaring flange V88 extends inwardly from the internal friction surfaces of the gripping jaws, so as to provide a recess to receive the lower margin of the cap C, and after the upper plunger 75 moves downwardly to locate this margin in the recess the lower plunger i6 nieves upwardly to force the upper margin of the receptacle into the cap. This upper margin may be slightly contracted in moving across the rigid metal flange, or projection, 88 and it is positively directed into the cap which surrounds said flange. rlChereafter the lower plunger T6 continues its upward motion to w'thdraw the cap C from the flange 88, and the gripping jaws 74.- then move away from each other to release the flange and jaws from the capped receptacle. Vvhen the next receptacle enters the space between the gripping jaws, it pushes the capped5 receptacle from said space.

The inner face of each gripping jaw 74 is provided with an opening 91 (Figs. III, lV, V and Vl) in the form of a vertical channel or groove, and when the jaws are in their capping positions their adjacent edges are slightly separated as shown at 91 in Figs. XV and V, to form additional openings at the friction faces. These openings lie in the course of the flange on the cap and they are intended to receive bulging portions of this flange. I have found in practice that some of the paper cap flanges are too large in diameter, and that a flange of about the proper diameter may have a bulging portion. ln either of these cases the Y(pressure of the gripping jaws is likely to cause the of the cap to bulge inwardly unless there is some provision to receive an outward bulge or wrinkle. If a part of the cap-iiange extends inwardly, the cap will not properly receive the receptacle. The openings 91 and 91 therefore aid in permitting the cap-flange to bulge outwardly where it will not interfere with either the receptacle or the guiding member 88 which directs the receptacle into the cap.

planners 75 and .76 comprises a rod 92 extending downwardly from the lower plunger To and provided with a roller at its lower end engaging a cam 93 on the rotary shaft T2-. This rod 92 moves in a stationary guide 9i (Figs. il and HI) which is slotted at 95 to receive a pin extending from the rod to prvent rotation of the vertically movable roc.

rlhe upper plunger 75 is fixed toa rod 96 ihe means for operating the capping (Figs. H andllll) slidable in a siationary guide 9? and having an annular groove at its upper end to receive a lever 98., the latter being fulcrunied at 99 :(lTig. il) and provided with a spring 100 ltending to retain Jche plunger 75 in iis eievated position. rllhe lever 98 is actuated by means of .a vertical rod lOl (Fig. Il) slidable in guides 102 and adapted to coniaei; wich said lever. The lower end ci rod 201 carries a roller contacting wiili a Cain 1.03 on Ehe rotary shaft 73. yllhis cani 103 appears in l? H and HI, but `the rod lOl is bro-lien away in Fig. IH for the cani and rod are near one end of the shaft T3, and inosi. of the other elements in Fig. ,lll conform approximately to the secifiou lino lill-lill in Fig. Il..

The inea-ns for rotating the shaft 73 coniprises a bevel. gear 104i on one end of said shail. meshing with a bevel gear 105 on the power shaft f l claini:

1. In a machine for applying caps 'to receptacles, a guiding device adapied to hold rthe cap in alineinent with Jdie receptacle, said guiding device being provided wish a rigid projection of arcuate i'orin disposed within che cap and adapted to lie directly between the overlapping walls of the cap and recepracle.

2. ln av machine for applying caps to re; ccpacles, a guiding device adapted io hold the cap in alineinenb with the receptacle, said guiding device being provided with a rigid inernal projeciion of arcuate iorni adaped io lic directly between the cap and receptacle, and operating means whereby the cap and receptacle are locaied at opposifce sides oi1 said projection.

In a machine for applying caps so receptacles, a guiding device adaped to hold the cap in alineinent wich Jche receptacle, said guiding device being provided with a recess and a thin forining one oi the walls of said recess, means whereby the edge of the cap is located in said recess so as io surround said thin iiange, and ineans whereby an end or the receptacle is locaed will in the cap While 1the latter is held in said recess.

4l. In a machine for applying caps io receptacles, a guiding device adapted to fricizionally hold the cap and receptacle in alineinenz*J with each other, said guiding device being provided wiihy a rigid .internal guiding projection of arcuateforin adapted to lie directly between and contactwih the cap and receptacle, means whereby the cap is moved in said guiding device to locate the edge of the cap oubside of said projection, and means whereby the receptacle is ino-ved in said guiding device to locate an end of Jdie receptacle at the inner side of said projection. i

5. In a machine for applying caps to receptacles, a guiding .device adapied to hold Vithe cap in alineinent with the receptacle,

said guiding device being provided with a recess and a thin flange iiorniing one of the walls or' said recess, nieans whereby ythe edge of 1che cap is located in said recess so as to surround said thin flange, and ineans whereby an end or che receptacle is located within the cap whiie `he latter is held in said recess, the last mentioned means including a pusher acting on the receptacle -o withdraw the cap 'from said recess.

6. In a machine for applying caps o receptacles, a guiding device adapted to iric tionally hold the cap and receptacle in alincniens witlji each other, said guidingdevice being provided with a rigid iniernal guiding pnoiecbion of arcuate forni adapted ro lie directly beeween and conraciI wiih the cap and recepiaclc, .means whereby *che cap is moved in said guiding device to localeA ihe edge oiI che cap outside of' said projifcction, and means whereby the-rccepbacle is moved in said guiding device to locate an end ci: the

receptacle ai 'che inner side of said projection, rhe las''. mentioned means including a pusher adaped to release the cap from said p rej ecion.

7. In a machine for applying caps to cylindriczi recepiacles, a cylindrical guiding -deiffice adapted' to frictioiially hold the cap Vand receptaclein alineinent with each other,

said guiding device being provided with an inrernal .daring iiange forming a recessie receive the edge of the cap, ineens whereby che cap is pushed along said guiding device io locate said edge of' the cap viii-hin said recess, and means whereby the receptacle is inoved io force an end ,of the receptacle across said flaring iiange and into the cap.

8. ln a machine :or Yiqyplying caps to cylindrical recepacles, a cylindrical. guiding device adapted ro irictionally hold the cap and recepacle in alinenieni` .fith each other, said guiding device being' provided with an intr nal flaring riange forining'a recess to receive the edge or the cap, means whereby the cap is pushed along said guiding device to locate said edge of the cap within said recess, and means whereby the receptacle is moved to force an end of the receptacle across said flaring flange and into the cap, the last mentioned ineans including a pusher acting on the receptacle to withdraw vthe cap from said recess.

9. ln a machine for applying caps to cy` lindrical recepiacles, a cylindrical guiding device comprising gripping jaws adapted to frictiona'lly hold the cap and receptacle in aline'inent with each other, each of said jaws being provided with a guiding flange on iii-s friction face forming a recess to re ceive the edge or" the cap, means whereby the cap is pushed along said jaws to locate the edge of the cap in the recesses, means Whereby the receptacle is moved along said jaws to force an end of the receptacle across the flanges and into the cap the last mentioned means including a pusher acting on the receptacle to withdraw the cap from the recesses, and means whereby the jaws are moved away from each other to release the guiding flanges from the receptacle.

10. In a carton-capping machine, a guiding device whereby one end of the carton is directed into the cap, said guiding device including a rigid flange disposed within the cap and having a flaring friction face for contracting the cap-receiving end of the -arton.

1l. In a carton-capping machine, a guidw ing device whereby the cap-receiving end of the carton is directed into the cap, said guiding device including a rigid flange adapted to lie within the cap, said flange having a `flaring friction face adapted to contract the cap-receiving end of the carton, and means whereby said end is forced across said flaring friction face to lie within the cap, said means being adapted to remove the cap from said flange, and said guiding device being movable to separate said flange from the carton. l2. In a machine for applying flexible caps to receptacles, a guiding device adapted to frictionally hold the cap in alinement with the receptacle, the friction face of said guiding device being provided with openings to receive bulging portions of the cap, said friction face also having a guiding flange adapted to direct one end of the receptacle into the cap, and operating means whereby the cap and receptacle are moved along said friction face to locate said guiding flange between the inside of the cap and the outside of the receptacle.

13. In a machine for applying caps to receptacles, gripping members adapted to frictionally hold the cap in alinement with the receptacle, a reciprocating member provided with an upper pusher adapted to push the caps to said gripping members, a lower pusher extending from said reciprocating member to push the receptacles to said gripping members, and a pair of feeders arranged one above the other to feed the caps and cans into the paths of said pushers.

lll. In a machine for applying caps to receptacles, gripping members adapted to frictionally hold the cap in alinement with the receptacle, a reciprocating member provided with an upper pusher adapted to push the caps to said gripping members, a lower pusher extending from said reciprocating; member to push the receptacles to said gripping members, an endless traveling belt whereby the caps are transmitted to the path of said upper pusher, means for delivering caps to the inner face of said belt, said upper pusher being movable through said belt, and a lower traveling belt arranged below the first mentioned belt to feed the receptaclesv into the path of said lower pusher.

y15. In a machine for securing caps to receptacles, a capping device adapted to apply the caps to the receptacles, feeding means including a traveling conveyor whereby the receptacles are carried toward said capping device, a stop arranged in the course of the receptacles to permit motion of the belt while some of the receptacles are at rest, and a gumming device includinga gum-applying roll arranged over the course of the receptacles to contact with the upper edges thereof, said roll being remote from said stop to prevent stoppage of the receptacle in contact with said roll.

16. In a machine for securing caps to receptacles, a capping device adapted to apply the caps to the receptacles, feeding means including a traveling conveyor whereby the receptacles are carried toward said capping device, a stop arranged in the course of the receptacles to permit motion of the belt while some of the receptacles are at rest, a gumming device including a gulli-applying roll arranged over the course of the receptacles to contact with the upper edges thereof, said roll being remote from said stop to prevent stoppage of the receptacle in contact with said roll, and an automatic stop device arranged in the course of the receptacles passing to said roll so at to limit the number of the receptacles between said roll and the first mentioned stop, said automatic stop device including means for releasing one receptacle for each capping operation.

17. In a machine for securing caps to receptacles, a capping device adapted to apply the caps to the receptacles, feeding means ii'icludinp a traveling conveyor' whereby the receptacles are carried toward said capping device, a stop arranged in the course of the receptacles to permit motion of the belt while some of the receptacles are at rest, a gumming device including a gum-applying roll arranged over the course of the recep tacles to contact with the upper edges thereof, said roll being remote from said stop to prevent stoppage of the receptacle in contact with said roll, a second stop device arranged in the course of the receptacles passing to said rell, so as to limit the number of receptacles between the first mentioned stop and the roll, and means whereby said second stop device is released in response to each operation of the capping device so as to deliver the receptacles to said roll.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature.

CHARLES W. LOUFEK. 

